Golf Carts, ezgo, clubcar, electric, or gas???

[FNGator]

I've planned for more than a year to get DW a Kawasaki Mule (or equivilent) so she can 'tour' our trails, cart food and plants around, take guests for rides, etc. There AREN'T ANY available used, and new ones cost over $10,000. So I had to regroup and rethink my plans.

I started looking for a Suzuki Samurai. Even that was hard but I finally found one before Thanksgiving. Since it's a Christmas present, I was able to have it delivered to my neighbor's, then later "hide" it in our woods. Friday I pulled off the doors, top and windshield. Saturday I spent waxing and cleaning, while she was shopping.

This is her present, currently wrapped in a blue tarp out in the forest. I got a tiny toy that looks just like it and wrapped it for under the tree. Altogether less than $2000, including tax, license and fees. I'll 'non-op' it next time the registration comes due.
>>dang why didn't I think of that<<


Phil

Howdy howdy and greetings
First off thanks to Phil for solving my dilemma - his thumbnail gave me the idea I need (and I add Mrs. Phil is one lucky gal).

I just bought a 2006 Club Precedent for under 4k (little over 3k but I got the fancy cargo box added) and it came off the truck looking BDN.
First ride I was a Buggy Addict and started prowling for extra goodies on the net (don't ask how I got here).

>>1. came from a fancy pants country club and must have gotten spoiled-baby maintenance (they even threw in the OE charger, new mat, new batts, etc etc). Buyer's market yall.
>>2. figure up 3-4 years of gas, oil, tuneups etc vs. new batts - no contest.

My little JD getting real old and needed a helper to do the light stuff so I figured.... anyway the little stuff.
Man I had no idea.
Dawned on me what I could do with this thingy.
Course I couldn't find what I need on the net of course. Dang net. So I decided to DIY (yuck).

>>add a front to it.
Like a Hummer front that looks sharp, with a hooded compartment. Lights (no horn - I still like to yell) lift kit, wheels, radio, (toys yahooooo) - but the real deal is what goes in there.
1500 watt hardwire inverter with a cutout switch, portable worklight or two, cords, etc etc.
Not only can I haul and tow, I can run power tools on the back 40 - if she goes too low old JD can drag her home for me (might be all he does he earned his retirement).
Can even run my subm well when the power goes down (made a pigtail for it) or lights in the house - packing 48 volts of Trojans it wouldn't get much work from a power saw or a light or filling the water tank (Deere may run but Trojans work).
Doubt I'm the first either.
Dawgs love the ride too (shotgun!) since there ain't no noise (woe to the man don't keep his 4 leggers happy).

Course again couldn't find what I want on the net, so I'll build my front with 1/4" and 2x, glue, brads, primer and JDGreen - and now that I saw Phil's little buggy I know the easiest way (only way to go) to form that front.
Replicating a Hummer ain't easy (look at the price of side markers for one) so I'll make it a Suzoo instead!
Thanks again Phil. That shape will be a lot easier to build (man my neighbor is gonna be geeeee-elus heh heh).

I imagine a milspec Hummer probly has a built-in boot polisher and OD jukebox, but my ebuggy will do what no ordinary trac or cart can do - recommend it to all toy lovin he-men (who have the sense to give it to the wife first then use it allthedangtime themselves).

I'm a blabbermouth but hope yall enjoyed - let you know how my Xmachine works out and any new crazy old ideas I get.
BTW I was looking at voltage reducers at BU - and it says the Precedent doesn't need one - any one know about that?

I'll shut up now

GB&PTL

 

[FNGator]

Good info. I can get a 2002 48 volt club car for $1950. Batteries are said to be testing at 70-80 minutes, new test at 100-110.

Like I said, I want the electric, and the silence is not something I had been using to my advantage. We can get the lift kit and tires, and the flip flop seat for between $500 and $700 depending on what options we go with. I don't think installation will be too bad.

Does anyone with an electric cart have a battery saver? The guy at the cart place said they strongly recommend them to extend battery life.

Howdy Toro
The secret to batteries is never let one go to bed without a full charge.
I read that and it held up for me. I've brought deaders back from the farm by hitting em with different successive charges from different chargers (with a comptrolled charger in there to desulfate).
Sulfation occurs (so I'm told) when the battery sits without a full charge, and the lower the charge the worse the sulfing.

If you ever fool with a battery yank it out to do it and you'll never have to worry about frying diodes like my neighbor does all the time.

You could rig a hoist on the back to lift them heavy Trojans out - and tell your neighbor it's for towing cars...

I'll shut up now

GB&PTL

 

[impdaddy]

I just bought a Club Car 1975-1980 vintage ( the 3 pedal type) 36 V electric. Tried it out at the cabin last week. Wife loves it which is good cuz I bought it for her to get around. Now the boys have a plan to camo it , lift it a little and add cargo box. Best thing is it runs and batteries look good all for $550.

 

[FNGator]

That cargo box is a cheap thing - I'm ditching mine and mounting a good wood box on its supports. I'll add wood doors to the metal box and use it for a wall cabinet.

Check your rear springs - the box flattened mine. With the lift kit you need new springs and the total will equal what the cart cost. Toys get expensive heh.